The weekly messenger., 1887-07-02

poon. He realized then what he had
done, what vengeance he had provoked,
with whom he had dealt and had still to
deal. Karen found him lying in a swoon,
the broken lantern by his side. He
told her nothing, and from that day
was silent and gloomy, for he knew that
he had incurred the deadly hate of mer
man, than which no greater evil can be-
fall seafaring man.
But he kept on with his fishing, and
one dark morning, as he was sailing out,
he heard deep voice that seemed to call
from the sea itself:
Your boat sails well, for the wind is free;
Wait till you've sailed a race with mel
When the sky is black and the dead afoat,
Ill show you the match of your ten-oared
boat.
His men thought il was some neighbor
wishing to play them a track. Elias knew
what it was.
From that day he lived in terror. lie
gave up all idea of buying a ten-oarcd
boat, partly because he did not think it
worth while for the short time he be-
licved he had to live, partly because the
mcrman's words seemed to warn him
against sailing in such craft.
We said all we could to cheer him, at
first with little effect; but as months and
seasons passed and nothing evil happened
his gloom wore away, he became his old
self, and again all his talk was of q new
teno cared boat
Spring came and day was fixed when
we were to sail around to Rancn, sell the
old boat for what it would fetch and buy
the new one. Great were the prepara-
tions, for we intended to make a pleas
ure party of it, and take Karen and all
the children. My wife insisted that she
should stay at home so that the industr-
Gus house mother should have at least one
days divcTsion-that is, she was not nv
wife then; she was an orphan, like me,
who had been adopted by the kind fish
erman. Oh, if Elsa had only gone with
us we would have come back safe and
happy, for Elsa is Finn, and the Firms
know all sea magic and can bring to
nought all the enchantments of the mer-
men. But it was fated.
The day fixed for our trip was perfect.
The sky was bright and clear; a light
breeze, fair for Ranen, just ruffled the
sea. We were merry party; we sailed
away laughing and singing, while Elsa
waved us good luck from the shore.
We soon reached Ranen, and while
Karen and the children went to the house
of friend, Elias and l sought the boat
builder.
We managed to sell our old boat,
though we got but little for it. Then
began long and careful examination of
ten-oared boats. We were hard to please,
but at last found one that seemed to be
Just what we wanted. Her model below
the water-line was so perfect, so superior
to any that we had ever seen, that we de-
termined to buy her, although she seemed
overmasted and rather clumsily rugged.
The boatbuilder acknowledged this
himself, saying that he had finished her
hurricdly, being overrun with work.
''But," said he, ''you will find that there
is no boat in these waters that can sail
with her. She is a perfect model. Look
at her lines. The faults you mention are,
after all, but trifles. You can alter her
rigging to suit yourselves when you get
her to Kralholm; besides, | am Just
man, and will allow you something off
the price, so that you will really have a
bargain"
So, after some haggling, price was
agreed upon, which Elias paid down, and
the boat was his. The boatbuildcr, how
ever, made us promise faithfully not to
alter her in the least particular, not even
to touch her with IA tar brush, until we
were at Kralholm. For" said he, II
have boastcd greatly of this boat, and |
do not wish to be shamed before the
whole town by having you begin to alter
her rig the moment you own her."
We gave the promise readily, and the
builder talked SO much while she was be-